Improvement in canal-boats



UNITED STATEs ATENT OFFICE.

HORACE WICKHAM, JR., OF CHICAGO, ILLINOIS, ASSIGNOR TO HENRY P. CALDWELLAND HUGO WAN GEMAN, OF SAME PLACE.

IMPROVEMENT IN CANAL-BOATS.

Specification forming part of Letters Patent No. 122,874, dated January16, 1872.

SPECIFICATION.

I, HORACE WICKHAM, Jr., of Chicago, in the county of Cook and State oi'Illinois, have invented-a device or mode to prevent a wave or waves madeby aboat or its propellingpower from washing or reaching the banks orshores of any canal, river, or the banks or shores of any other streamor body of water, of which the following is a speciication.

Nature and Object of the Ivwentton.

The rst part of my invention relates to the mode ofintercepting orpreventing the wave or waves made by a boat or its propelling power, bymeans of one or more movable or stationary false sides, so constructedas to retard or prevent the wave or waves made by a boat or itspropelling power from washing or reaching the banks or shores of anycanal, river, or the banks or shores of any other stream or body ofwater; the false sides should be attached to and be sufciently removedfrom the sides ofthe boat so as to give sufcient space for wave or wavesto break against the inside ofthe said false sides, and pass between thesaid false sides and the sides of the boat in an opposite direction fromwhich the boat is moving. The said false sides are to extend into andabove the natural level of the surface of the water, so as not to allowthe wave or waves to pass under or over the said false sides or over thesides of the boat. Both ends and the lower edge of the said false sidesshould enter into and move against the water, so as not to create a waveor waves that would have the tendency to wash the banks or shores 5 andthe said false sides should be of sufficient length, so as not to allowthe wave or waves to pass outside of the said false sides until they,the waves, have been destroyed, and have passed between and through thelength of the space between the said false sides and the sides of theboat in an opposite direction from which the boat is moving. The saidfalse sides should be braced and supported in such a manner as toprevent as far as possible any of its parts trom vibrating. The saidfalse sides and connections can be made of any suitable material. Thematerial used should have sufficient strength to prevent as far aspossible any vibrations. Movable false sides are preferable tostationary ones. The second part of my invention relates to the mode ofoperating the said false sides by means of movable arms, levers, andsupports for folding the said false sides to the sides of the boat, andfor 1owering and raising the said false sides, according to the draughtof the boat. The said movable parts are to be made stationary whendesired.

Description of the Acconwanying Drawing.

Figure 1 is a plan view of my invention; Fig. 2, section end elevationof the same.

General Description.

A, Fig. l, is the hull of the boat to which my device is attached. B andC, Fig. 1, are movable false sides, which should be constructed in asubstantial manner, so as to prevent vibrations. The false side B foldsagainst the boat horizontally. C, Fig. 1, folds against the boatvertically. D and D', Fig. 1, are movable arms. F F F, Fig. 1, aresockets in which the arms D D are placed. G, Fig. 1, is a lever forfolding to the side of the boat the false side B. H is the fulcrum ofthe lever G. E, Fig. 1, is an rm to connect the lever Gto the arm D. Thedotted lines, Fig. 1, show the false side B, Fig. 1, in a half-foldedposition. I I, Fig. 1, are the arms which support the false side C, andare made movable. K K are the sockets in which the arms I I', Fi g. 1,are placed. M is the lever for folding the false side C, which is forkedon one end: L is a swivel between the forks N on the end of the lever M.The swivel L moves on the arm I when in the act oi' raising or loweringthe false side C. O is the fulcrum ofthe lever M. The dotted lines, Fig.2, show the false side C in a half-closed or lowered position.

Claim.

I claim as my invention- The adjustable parallel false sides B and C, incombination with the hull of a boat, when arranged substantially in themanner and for the purpose set forth.

HORACE WICKHAM, JR.

Witnesses:

D. C. ALLEN, J AS. T. ALLEN.

